Self-contained RV sanitary systems

ABSTRACT

A self-contained sanitary fixture, particularly for a recreational vehicle, comprises a bench supported on a base cooperatively defining a stowage compartment. The bench contains a bowl having an outlet which connects to a tank in the storage compartment. A valve on the tank controls passage between the bowl and the tank. The valve is itself operated from a knob on the bench through a coupling mechanism. Waste water from the bowl is collected in the tank and is disposed of by sliding the tank out of the stowage compartment through an opening in the RV&#39;s sidewall and carrying the tank to a suitable disposal site. The tank incorporates a rotatable pourspout and vent valve to facilitate pouring waste contents out of the tank. The connections between the bowl outlet and the tank and between the knob and valve automatically disconnect upon removal of the tank from the stowage compartment. Similarly they automatically reconnect when the tank is inserted back into the stowage compartment. There are numerous features to the invention including those in the fixture and its various parts and in relationships to the installation in the recreational vehicle.

This is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 427,030, filedOct. 25, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,048, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 180,321, filed Mar. 11, 1989, nowabandoned, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.870,800, filed June 5, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,631.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to recreational vehicles such as motor homes andtravel trailers, and is particularly concerned with new and uniqueinstallations for the tanks which are parts of the water use systems ofsuch vehicles.

The typical recreational vehicle (RV) comprises a wheeled chassis onwhich a body is mounted. The body contains an interior space for use byoccupants. RV's have come to enjoy increasing popularity over the yearsbecause of the many conveniences which they provide. Today many RV's areentirely self-contained which means that they have not only their ownliving accommodations but all related conveniences as well. One of theconveniences is a complete self-contained water use system includingsanitary fixtures such as sinks, showers, baths, toilets and the like.Fresh water for the system is contained in one or more fresh waterstorage tanks; waste liquid is stored in one or more holding tanks.Typically there are separate waste holding tanks for what is commonlyrespectively referred to as "gray water" and "black water." Gray wateris waste water from sinks and showers whereas black water is waste fromtoilets.

In self-contained RV's in the United States, it has heretofore been thepractice to locate the fresh water storage tank inside the vehicle bodywhere it is within the interior occupant space. Such tanks usually havegenerally rectangular shapes and are mounted on the body floor, forexample, concealed beneath a bench or a cabinet.

Waste water tanks are typically exterior of the RV body, usually beingsuspended from the chassis below the body floor. Because of this, theyoften reduce the RV's road clearance in the area of the chassis wherethey are located. They must be sufficiently strong to withstand damagefrom external forces such as rocks and stones for example.

The waste tanks have inlets which are in communication with outlets ofthe respective sanitary fixtures which they serve. Each waste tank hasan outlet controlled by a gate valve. These gate valves usually connectto a common outlet to which a hose is attached for dumping. When thevalves are opened, the tanks' contents drain through the hose. Becausedumping of waste onto open ground is usually prohibited, the tanks aredumped either into an intermediate container which is then carried tothe disposal site, or else by moving the RV to the disposal site. Thevalves and the related conduits are also exterior of the RV and hencesubject to potential damage from external forces.

In general, neither fresh water tanks nor waste holding tanks areintended for removal. Since typical waste holding tanks are disposedbeneath the RV, they are removable only for service, and if at all, onlyby access to the undercarriage of the RV to separate the means ofattachment, allowing them to be dropped down for removal. Tanks on theRV's interior, be they fresh water or waste water, first require removalof some interior part or parts of the body, such as a bench or cabinet,before they themselves can be removed.

Sometimes the toilet facility of an RV comprises simply a portabletoilet situated in a particular location of the recreational vehicle. Atypical portable toilet is a two-piece, fresh water flush typecomprising a seat section which is supported on and separably attachedto a holding tank section. Such a toilet is serviced usually by carryingit out of the RV either in its entirety, or else, depending upon thenature of particular service needed, i.e. either filling with freshwater or disposal of waste, by separating the two sections and carryingonly the one needing service out of the RV. In smaller RV's, servicingthrough the inside occupant space of the RV may be considered by some tobe undesirable, or even offensive, for example where the portable toiletis carried through the eating area of the RV.

The present invention relates to improvements in the self-containedwater use systems, such as are commonly found in RV's, and importantobjectives of the invention are to promote user convenience, toeliminate the need to service the systems through the interior occupantspace of the RV, and to package the system in a highly space efficientmanner while nonetheless endowing the system with numerous userconveniences. While certain aspects of the invention bear a direct nexusto an RV, it is to be appreciated that certain aspects of the inventionhave potential usage in other than the specific context of an RVinstallation.

In the context of an RV installation, certain significant aspects of theinvention relate to the waste disposal tanks which receive and collectwaste from sanitary fixtures in the RV. Other aspects relate to freshwater storage chambers inside the RV.

For application of the invention in an RV waste holding tank, thepreferred embodiment of the invention contemplates a stowage compartmentwithin the RV body which is separated from the interior occupant spaceThe stowage compartment is disposed adjacent the body sidewall and anaccess opening to the stowage compartment is provided in the sidewall.The access opening is closed by a door. When the door is opened, theholding tank can be moved bodily outwardly of the stowage compartmentthrough the access opening and carried to a waste disposal site at whichthe accumulated contents are poured out of the holding tank. Afterwardsthe tank may be rinsed and provided with an initial fill of a smallamount of water and possibly one or more chemicals commonly used withsuch holding tanks for various purposes such as odor control forexample. The tank is then inserted through the access opening back intothe stowage compartment, and the access door is closed.

Still in this context of an RV waste holding tank installation, thepreferred embodiment of the invention comprises a means forautomatically making a sealed connection of the holding tank to anoutlet from a sanitary fixture inside the RV which is served by theholding tank when the tank is inserted into the stowage compartment andstowed. Specifically, this automatic connection is made in accompanimentof the act of inserting the holding tank into the stowage compartment sothat there is no need to perform any additional manipulation oroperation in order to make the sealed connection, other than the mereact of inserting the holding tank into the stowage compartment. Whiledetails of how this is accomplished will be explained in the ensuingdescription of the preferred embodiment, it may be briefly stated thatthe holding tank is supported on a base in the stowage compartment andthe base serves to guide the holding tank motion into the stowagecompartment. The base bears a predetermined relationship to the outletfrom the sanitary fixture to which the holding tank is to be connectedso that the holding tank opening which connects to the outlet will bebrought into registry with the outlet when the tank is fully stowed. Inaddition, a guide on the holding tank at the holding tank opening and amating flange on the outlet from the sanitary fixture serve to provideprecise control of the registry insuring a sealed connection despitetolerance variations in the degree of precision of tank guidanceprovided by the base.

When the holding tank is intended to be a black water tank whichcollects waste from a toilet, the valve for controlling the passage ofwaste from the toilet bowl is provided on the holding tank to open andclose the holding tank opening which is in registry with the toilet bowloutlet. Because the operator for the valve is located inside theoccupant space adjacent the toilet bowl, an operative connection fromthe operator to the holding tank valve must be provided. This operativeconnection includes a disconnectable connection which connects anddisconnects in accompaniment of the connection and disconnection of theholding tank opening to and from the toilet bowl outlet so that nofurther manipulation or operation is required for connection ordisconnection. In other words the connection and disconnection areentirely automatic, occuring in accompaniment of the motion of the tankinto and out of the stowage compartment. The preferred embodiment ofthis connection is such however that removal of the holding tank fromthe stowage compartment cannot occur unless the operator has beenoperated to a position which closes the holding tank valve. In this waythe holding tank opening will be closed when the holding tank is removedfrom the stowage compartment. If the operator is moved from thisposition while the holding tank is out, a successful reconnection canstill occur by providing lead which will automatically re-align theconnection as the tank is reinserted. Convenience in removing,installing, and dumping the contents of the holding tank is promoted byproviding multiple handles on the holding tank. One handle is at the oneend of the holding tank's sidewall which confronts the access opening inthe RV sidewall. A second handle is located in the top wall of theholding tank between the first handle and the valved opening into theholding tank which is centrally located on the holding tank's top wall.

In order to remove the holding tank from its fully stowed position, aspring-loaded catch must be released after the access door has beenopened. This catch is located on the base which supports and guides theholding tank and is in an interference relationship with the lower edgeof the end of the tank's sidewall which confronts the access opening inthe RV's sidewall. In the interference position the catch serves toconstrain the holding tank against withdrawal from the fully stowedposition.

When the holding tank is to be withdrawn, the catch is depressed, andthe first handle in the end of the tank sidewall is grasped to beginwithdrawing the tank from the stowage compartment. The bottom wall ofthe tank rides over the depressed catch as withdrawal of the tankcontinues. The bottom wall of the tank is configured with a clearancewhich passes over the catch allowing the catch to return to itsinterference position. After a predetermined amount of withdrawal of thetank, a stop in the bottom wall of the tank at the end of the clearancewill abut the catch. By having this occur before the tank has been fullywithdrawn, the catch serves to prevent the tank from being accidentallypulled completely out of the stowage compartment and possibly dropped onthe ground where damage might ensue.

The tank also has a third and fourth handle on the side of its valvedopening opposite the side containing the first two handles. The thirdhandle is in the top wall, and the fourth is in the far end sidewall.Once the motion of the tank has been arrested after it has beenwithdrawn this predetermined amount, the third handle can be grasped bythe person's other hand. The tank can now be tipped downwardly at thenear end and slightly upwardly at the far end to thereby clear thebottom wall from the catch and allow the tank to be removed entirelyfrom the stowage compartment. This takes place after the tank's openinghas moved a sufficient distance from the outlet of the sanitary fixtureso that such tipping can occur without interference between the openingand outlet, or the flange and guide which are respectively attached tothe outlet and the opening.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the holding tank isgenerally symmetrical about a vertical plane which bisects the valvedopening to the tank. One aspect of this symmetry is that the thirdhandle which was just referred to is symmetrical to the second handleand the fourth handle is symmetrical to the first handle.

A pourspout is rotatably mounted in a hole at one corner of the top wallof the holding tank. The pourspout is rotatable about an axisperpendicular to the top wall between a stowed position and a pouringposition. In its stowed position, the pourspout overlies the top wall ofthe holding tank generally parallel with and immediately adjacent thetop edge of the near end of the tank's sidewall which confronts theaccess opening in the RV's sidewall when the tank itself is in fullystowed position. In its pouring position, the pourspout projectsoutwardly beyond the sidewall, pointing away from the tank. When thetank has been removed from the stowage compartment and transported to adisposal site for dumping, the pourspout is operated to its pouringposition and aimed into the disposal site. A closure cap on the end ofthe spout is removed before pouring.

In order to facilitate the flow of waste out of the tank through thepourspout, a manually operated vent valve is provided in the top wall ofthe holding tank at the far end, opposite the near end which containsthe pourspout. This manually operated vent is disposed proximate the farend wall handle so that it can be operated by the person's thumb whilethat far end wall handle is being grasped by the fingers of the samehand, and the other hand grasps the top wall handle which is nearer thepourspout. By providing a separate vent valve, it is unnecessary to openthe closed holding tank valve, and this serves to avoid any leakagewhich might occur through the holding tank opening if its valve had tobe cracked open for venting.

The vent valve mounts in a fitting which is assembled into a hole in thetop wall of the holding tank at the far end. This hole is arranged inthe top wall in symmetry to the hole in which the pourspout is mounted.The manner in which the fitting attaches into its hole is like themanner in which the pourspout fits into its hole so that a pourspout canbe fitted into either of the two holes and likewise a vent valveassembly can be fitted into either of the two holes.

This hole symmetry and the handle symmetry, in relation to the centrallocation of the valved opening into the holding tank enables a commontank to be used for right hand and left hand system installations. Thisis advantageous because it means that separate tanks do not have to betooled to accommodate these two types of installations and this reducesat least in half tooling cost which would otherwise possibly be requiredto accommodate both types of installations. It also is a convenience ifa replacement tank or other replacement parts for the tank are everneeded. The possibility also exists for certain installations that acommon base may be used, and in fact in the disclosed embodiment thesame base will serve both right hand and left hand installations, andfor such purpose it comprises releasable catches at both ends.

In the case of a self-contained toilet system, the toilet may beequipped with either a manual or an electrically operated pump forintroducing flush water into the toilet bowl. In the electric pumpversion, the operator for opening and closing the holding tank valve isconfigured in a manner not only for conveniently operating the holdingtank valve but also for operating the electric pump. In this regard theoperator is in the form of a knob having a central axis about which theknob turns to open and close the holding tank valve and along which theknob moves axially to control operation of the electric pump.

The disclosed embodiment of toilet system, comprises a bench, or seatsection, which is intended to be built into the RV in a permanentmanner. The toilet bowl is located centrally in the bench and the benchhas a fresh water storage chamber surrounding the bowl. The operator foropening and closing the holding tank valve is located on the top wall ofthe bench adjacent the bowl so as to be accessible for the operation bya standing or seated user. On the opposite side of the bench, the topwall contains a large hole. When the toilet is of the electricallyoperated pump type, the pump mechanism is installed within the interiorof the chamber by passing it through this hole. The hole is then closedby a closure in the form of a receptacle which extends into the bench.This receptacle is of a circular cylindrical configuration and a sizewhich allows a fresh roll of toilet paper to be stored in it. Thereceptacle is closed by a removable cover.

In the manually operated pump version, the pump, which is preferably abellows type of the kind used by the assignee of this invention in itsline of portable toilets, is mounted on a fitting which in turn isassembled in closure of this large hole.

Because the fresh water storage chamber of the bench must beperiodically filled with a supply of fresh water, a further aspect ofthe invention relates to the filling of this chamber from the outside ofthe RV. In the disclosed embodiment this is accomplished through thesame access opening in the RV's sidewall through which the holding tankis removed and installed. A fill is disposed behind the closed accessdoor, but when that door is open, the fill can be swung outward forfilling.

The fill is disposed at a vertical elevation correlated with the filllevel within the water storage chamber. A conduit from the fill to thechamber is routed along a path, portions of which are below the fullfill level of the chamber, and in fact the conduit connects to thechamber at a location below the full fill level. Hence the tank fills bythe principle of water seeking its own level, and therefore as water isintroduced into the fill the level of water at the fill will rise inaccordance with the actual fill level within the chamber. The fill isprovided with a sight gauge so that the person filling the chamber cansee when the tank is full by observing the sight gauge.

The water storage chamber has a space-efficient configuration whichwould result in the formation of an air pocket during fillingrestricting the extent to which the chamber can be filled, but foranother of the aspects of the invention. This aspect provides a vent forthe chamber headspace to the interior of the toilet bowl. While thelocation and size of the vent are such that it will not pass watersloshing about in the chamber, any such activity which results in smallamounts of water passing through the vent result in the water collectingin the toilet bowl.

Likewise it may be necessary at times to drain the fresh water chamberand this is done through a drain line which extends from a low point ofthe chamber through the stowage compartment to the RV's sidewall accessopening. When the door to the sidewall access opening is open and thechamber is to be drained, the length of this drain conduit allows it tobe extended to outside of the RV. A closure in the end of the drainconduit is removed allowing the contents of the tank to drain to outsidethe vehicle.

A further aspect of the fresh water storage chamber filling and drainingis that the same parts can be used for both right hand and left handinstallations.

Thus in an RV installation the invention provides complete servicabilityfrom the RV's exterior. Chemicals are to be added to the holding tankfrom the exterior, and a convenient stowage place for the chemicals isprovided within the stowage compartment by one or more pan formations ina part of the base which underlies the holding tank.

There are certain features in the base which are also advantageous. Thedisclosed embodiment of base comprises a load bearing frameword on theRV's floor which provides the principal load support for both the benchand the holding tank. A molded plastic base member comprises a trackstructure which supports and guides the holding tank into and out of thestowage compartment with the track structure in turn being supported bythe load bearing framework. The base member comprises an integralformation of the aforementioned pan or pans at a level below the holdingtank. Not only can this pan formation serve to store containers ofchemicals, but it can collect liquid which otherwise might fall onto andrun along the RV floor. In the event that the toilet were used while theholding tank was removed, such pan or pans structure form a sump inwhich the waste material may collect, thereby preventing the wastematerial from spreading onto the vehicle floor.

The base also has a cooperative association with the RV floor in forminga service conduit passage for various service conduits running along theRV's floor, for example a heat duct which is required to pass throughthe location of the sanitary fixture.

The preferred embodiment comprises a level indicator on the holding tankto indicate the extent to which the holding tank is filled with waste.This level indicator is viewable through a window in the bench when theholding tank is in stowed position.

If there is a lack of attention to the level indicator such that thetank becomes overfilled, the level of waste will be above that of theholding tank valve blade. The pourspout bears a predeterminedrelationship to the holding tank valve blade which is especially usefulin these situations where the tank is filled beyond its capacity.

The pourspout defines a weir level which is below that of the holdingtank valve blade. If the tank is filled beyond its capacity the wastelevel will rise above the level of the valve blade. The existence ofthis situation may be perceived from the inside of the RV by viewing ofthe bowl; in other words the bowl will not drain into the holding tankbecause the holding tank is full. If an attempt is made now to removethe stowage tank, there will be waste material above the level of theclosed blade which will be released when the tank is removed. Such asituation can be alleviated by rotating the pourspout from its stowedposition to pouring position pointing through the access opening in theRV sidewall so that the outlet end of the pourspout is outside the RV.If the pourspout is now uncapped, the weir level defined by thepourspout will cause waste which is above the weir level to flow outthrough the pourspout and onto the ground, or into a container placed atthe pourspout outlet. Hence the excess waste is relieved so that whenthe stowage tank is then removed there is no substantial waste above thelevel of the closed valve blade, and the cap can be placed back onto thepourspout outlet. The tank is removed in the manner previouslydescribed. In the event that there is any residual waste in the bowloutlet after the tank has been removed, it will drip into the base andany significant amounts will collect in the pans. This collecteddrippage can then be cleaned up.

In order to provide the capability of a separable holding tank and afixed bench installation wherein a valve on the holding tank must becontrolled from the bench, further aspects of the invention relate tothe valve mechanism itself and the manner in which the valve mechanismis operably coupled to the actuator, as alluded to earlier in themention of the disconnectable connection in the coupling mechanism fromthe operator to the valve.

The foregoing features, advantages, and benefits of the invention, inits various aspects, along with additional ones, will be seen in theensuing description and claims which should be considered in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a representative recreationalvehicle (RV) having a self-contained sanitary system embodyingprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of three of the major componentsof the self-contained sanitary system, with portions of the RV brokenaway for illustrative purposes.

FIG. 3 is a top horizontal plan view taken generally in the direction ofarrows 3--3 in FIG. 2, showing the assembly relationship in the RV, butwith certain portions being omitted for illustrative purposes.

FIG. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken generally in thedirection of arrows 4--4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken generally in thedirection of arrows 5--5 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are fragmentary perspective views portraying asequence of removal of the system's tank from the RV.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken in thedirection of arrows 10--10 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken in thedirection of arrows 11--11 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken in the directionof arrows 12--12 in FIG. 10, with a portion broken away.

FIG. 13 is a view in the direction of arrows 13--13 in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of one of the components of FIG. 10 shown byitself.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line 15--15 in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of another of the components of FIG. 10 shownby itself.

FIG. 17 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 17--17 in FIG. 16.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are diagrammatic views illustrating particularrelationships relevant to FIGS. 10-17.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takengenerally in the direction of arrows 19--19 in FIG. 3 and havingportions broken away.

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary horizontal top view in the direction of arrows20--20 in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary horizontal bottom view taken in the directionof arrows 21--21 in FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken in the directionof arrows 22--22 in FIG. 19.

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of arrows 23--23in FIG. 19.

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on an enlarged scaletaken in the direction of arrows 24--24 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view in the direction ofarrows 25--25 in FIG. 24.

FIG. 25A, 25B, and 25C are respective diagrammatic views illustratingdifferent operative positions for the mechanism shown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 26 is a top plan view of a member which has a cooperativeassociation with the mechanism shown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a vertical view taken generally in the direction of arrows27--27 in FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a sectional view taken in the direction of arrows 28--28 inFIG. 26, with additional detail.

FIG. 29 is a vertical view taken in the same direction as FIG. 27 butshowing assembly relationship.

FIG. 30 is an enlarged view of circle 30 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 31 is a top horizontal plan view of FIG. 30.

FIG. 31A and 31B are diagrammatic views portraying different operationalpositions relevant to FIGS. 30 and 31.

FIG. 32 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view illustratingrelationship of certain component parts.

FIG. 33 is a horizontal plan view taken generally in the direction ofarrows 33--33 of FIG. 32.

FIG. 34 is a top plan diagrammatic view illustrating different positionsof operation relevant to FIGS. 32 and 33.

FIG. 35 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken in the direction ofarrows 35--35 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 36 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally in the directionof arrows 36--36 in FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating certainrelationships relevant to FIGS. 35 and 36.

FIG. 38 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating installation ofan electrically operated pump. FIG. 39 is a vertical sectional viewtaken in the direction of arrows 39--39 in FIG. 38.

FIG. 40 is a view similar to FIG. 39 illustrating a modified form.

FIG. 41 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view taken in the directionof arrows 41--41 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 42 is a front elevational view of FIG. 41.

FIG. 43 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a different position for thecomponent shown in FIG. 41.

FIG. 44 is a top plan view of one of the component parts of FIGS. 41 and42 shown by itself.

FIG. 45 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 45--45 in FIG. 44.

FIG. 46 is a vertical view of another of the component parts of FIGS. 41and 42 shown by itself.

FIG. 47 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the direction of arrows47--47 in FIG. 46.

FIG. 48 is a diagrammatic view illustrating relationships of FIGS. 41and 42 to other components of the system.

FIG. 49, 50, and 51 are views of a modified form for certain parts ofthe system.

FIGS. 52 and 53 are elevational views of two parts, by themselves.

FIG. 54 is a horizontal cross section referenced to FIG. 53; FIGS. 55and 56, horizontal cross sections referenced to FIG. 54.

FIG. 57 is a view of a part by itself.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a representative recreational vehicle (RV) 50 whichembodies a self-contained water use sanitary system according toprinciples of the invention. RV 50 is illustrated as a travel trailerwhich is adapted to be pulled behind a towing vehicle (not shown).Principles of the invention are applicable to other types of RVsincluding without limitation motor homes.

RV 50 comprises a wheeled chassis 52 on which is supported the RV body54. Chassis 52 comprises a perimeter frame 56 having a tongue 58 at theforward end via which the trailer connects to the towing vehicle. Thechassis further comprises tandem axles 60 and 62 which are supportedfrom frame 56 by a suitable suspension system which may include leafsprings and shock absorbers.

Body 54, in general, comprises a floor 64, a vertical side 66, and aroof 68 forming an enclosure. The body is shown to be generallyrectangular in shape although it is to be appreciated that any givenbody may have departures from such a shape. Side 66 comprises foursidewalls, namely a front 66a, a rear 66b, and two lateral sidewalls66c. It is the right-hand one of these lateral sidewalls 66c which isviewed directly in FIG. 1, and it is arranged at a right angle to floor64. Sidewall 66c is provided with a rectangular opening 70 which isshown in FIG. 1 to be closed by a door 72. This opening providesexternal access to the sanitary system within the RV body.

FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5 portray the general organization and arrangement ofa preferred embodiment of self-contained sanitary system according toprinciples of the invention. The illustrated embodiment is of a toiletsystem, 100 generally. FIG. 2 portrays three of the major components bythemselves in an exploded relationship for purposes of illustration.FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are views which portray the three major components ofFIG. 2 in assembled relationship in RV 50, along with additional detail.

The three major components illustrated in FIG. 2 are a base member 102,a holding tank 104 and a bench, or seat section, 106. The bench sectionand the base member are built into RV 50 while the holding tank isremovably stowed between the bench section and the base member in astowage compartment 108.

The lowest part of base member 102 is disposed on the RV's floor 64. Aload bearing structure (not shown in FIG. 2) provides the principal loadbearing support for holding tank 104 and bench 106 and has a certaincooperative association with base member 102. This load bearingstructure appears in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 as a box frame 110 on floor 64Base member 102 has a cooperative association with this load bearing boxframe 110 in that the box frame supports the perlmeter of base memberalong four sides.

Base member 102 may be considered to comprise a horizontal wall portion112 disposed on the load bearing structure so that this horizontal wallportion is therefore disposed at a level above floor 64. Two pans 114and 116 are formed in base member 102 and in the preferred embodimentare identical and symmetrically disposed to either side of the center ofwall portion 112. These pans have a depth corresponding to the distanceof horizontal wall portion 112 above floor 64 so that the bottoms of thepans are disposed against the floor. The pan bottoms may be providedwith embossments 118 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) containing apertures throughwhich fasteners 120, such as screws, are passed to attach member 102 tofloor 64. The box frame 110 relieves the load of the tank and bench fromthese pan structures enabling member 102 to be formed as a plastic partby injection molding. As appears in FIG. 5 the underside of wall portion112 may be provided with ribs 122 at selected locations which actuallybear on the box frame 110.

For convenience, toilet system 100 will be described for installation inRV 50 such that a user seated on bench 106 will face the front of theRV, and for a right-hand installation so that the left hand ends of thecomponents in FIG. 2 confront the RV's right exterior sidewall 66c asappears in FIG. 1. The motion of the holding tank into and out of thestowage compartment in the direction of arrow 128 will therefore belongitudinally of the holding tank and base and bench, but transverserelative to the RV. Similarly the transverse, or lateral dimensions ofthe bench, holding tank and base will be longitudinally, or front toback, in the RV. It is to be understood that this terminology is simplyfor convenience in description and is not to be construed in a limitingsense affecting scope of the invention. Indeed it is entirely possiblethat bench, base, and tank could be configured with different shapes ortheir longitudinal dimensions might lie fore and aft, or at a differentangle, in the RV.

Base member 102 incorporates a track structure for supporting holdingtank 104 within stowage compartment 108. This track structure is formedby a pair of spaced apart upwardly projecting formations from horizontalwall portion 112 which cooperate with the contiguous portions of wall112 in forming parallel tracks 124, 126. Tracks 124, 126 serve to guidethe track for motion into and out of the stowage compartment along astraight line direction represented by the arrow 128 in FIG. 2.

The holding tank is supported along its lower longitudinal edge portionsas is perhaps best seen in FIG. 5. There is a close conformity in fit ofthe holding tank with respect to tracks 124, 126 for accurate straightline guidance of the motion of the holding tank on the base. By makingtank 104 and base member 102 out of suitable plastic materials havingreasonably low coefficients of friction, the tank can be slid directlyon the tracks into and out of the stowage compartment.

Base member 102 comprises a horizontal wall portion 136 on the side oftrack 126 opposite, and approximately at the same level as, horizontalwall portion 112 As can be seen in FIG. 5 this wall portion 136 bearsagainst the top of the front of box frame 110, and the front of the boxframe extends the full length of the base below wall portion 136. Avertical wall 138 extends upwardly from the frontal edge of wall portion136.

For a majority of its length this vertical wall 138 has a nominalheight, but at the ends of the portion of nominal height, the wallcontinues upwardly as wing-like formations 140 and 142. Between thesewing-like formations 140 and 142 and extending along the top of thenominal height portion of wall 138 is a forwardly directed horizontalflange 144. The flange 144 and the wing-like projections 140 and 142form an upwardly open cavity 146 which fits in a flush manner withrespect to the frontal portion 147 of bench 106. In this regard thefront vertical corners of bench 106 are contoured with recesses matchingthe wing-like formations 140 and 142. The lower front edge 149 of thebench rests on and is supported by flange 144 with there being suitablemeans of attachment 148 to secure the two together. Thus when thesections are assembled, an attractive frontal appearance is presentedbecause of the flush fit of the bench onto cavity 146, while adequatesupport is provided for the front of the bench to the RV floor throughthe base and load bearing framework.

The rear of bench 106 is supported from the rear of base member 102through a plate member 152 which has a lower flange 150 resting on andscrewed to base member 102, as at 151. Plate member 152 extends upwardlyto the upper rear edge area 154 of the bench. The toilet 100 is disposedagainst a vertical back wall 156, a part of the RV, and member 152 canbe attached to that wall 156 thereby providing additional support.

The left hand ends of the components which appear in FIG. 2 are disposeddirectly against the RV wall 66c and the opposite ends are disposedagainst a wall 160 (see FIG. 3) parallel to wall 66c. Thus stowagecompartment 108 is completely separated from the interior occupant spaceby base frame 110, base member 102, bench 106, and the RV's walls. Thestowage compartment per se is open at opposite lengthwise ends but theRV's wall 160 closes one end. The other end, which appears at the leftin FIG. 2 confronts access opening 70 in sidewall 66c. Hence the stowagecompartment is isolated from the interior occupant space of the RV,access being had only through opening 70 after door 72 has been opened.

The toilet comprises a bowl 162. An associated ring 164 and cover 166are hingedly mounted on bench 106 adjacent the rear of the bowl forswinging motion in the sense represented by arrow 168 between up anddown positions.

The bench includes a water storage chamber 170 which surrounds bowl 162.This chamber 170 contains a supply of fresh water for use in flushing ofthe bowl. Operation of the toilet is controlled by a knob 172 which inFIG. 2 is shown disposed on the top of the bench to one side of thebowl. The particular shape of the bench is a space-efficient one and ingeneral it may be said to comprise cavities 176, 178 at its longitudinalends which have a cooperative arrangement with certain additionalfeatures of the system to be subsequently explained.

Further details of holding tank 104 appear in the foregoing, as well asadditional, drawing figures. While FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are primarily toportray a sequence for removal of the holding tank from the stowagecompartment, certain details of the holding tank structure can be seenin these figures. Holding tank 104 has a generally overall rectangularshape comprising a top wall 180, a sidewall 182, and a bottom wall 184.The top wall contains a central dome which has a circular opening 188which is opened and closed by a valve blade 274 within the tank. Whenthe tank is stowed within the stowage compartment opening 188 registersin a sealed manner with the outlet from bowl 162, and blade 274 controlsthe passage from the bowl into the holding tank. Details will besubsequently explained in later description.

The holding tank body is fabricated from an upper and a lower moldedplastic part which are joined together in a sealed manner around acontinuous seam 189. The upper plastic part contains top wall 180 and anadjacent marginal portion of sidewall 182. The lower plastic partcontains the remainder of sidewall 182 and the entirety of bottom wall184.

The size and capacity of holding tank 104 are such that it can hold ameaningful amount of waste so that frequent emptying of the tank can beavoided, yet not so large that the tank is overly difficult to remove,transport, and dump by an average adult even if full. The holding tankcontains handles which have a certain symmetry on the tank. Two handles190, 192 are provided on top wall 180 on opposite sides of opening 188,and there are two handles 194, 196 at opposite longitudinal ends of thetank sidewall. These ends of the tank are configured with suitablerecesses 198, 200 spanned by handles 194, 196 to enable a person's handsto conveniently grip the handles. Likewise there are recesses 202, 204in top wall 180 which are spanned by handles 190, 192 enabling thesehandles to be conveniently grasped. Hence the tank has two handlesdisposed longitudinally to one side of opening 188 and two handles tothe other side, with the two handles on the one side being symmetricallyarranged relative to the two handles on the other side. By providingfour handles in the symmetrical manner just described, the tank issuited for installation and removal in not only a forward facing righthand system installation as illustrated, but also in a forward facingleft hand system installation where the toilet system 100 is disposedagainst the RV's left sidewall 66c, and access to the stowagecompartment is obtained by providing opening 70 in that left sidewall.

For the right hand system installation, handle 194 confronts opening 70so as to be disposed for convenient grasping when the tank is to bewithdrawn. Withdrawal can be continued using this handle and/or theimmediately adjacent top wall handle 190. When the tank has beenfurther, but not completely, withdrawn, the top wall handle 192 can nowbe grasped and the tank carried completely out of the stowagecompartment with two hands. For transport to a disposal site, the tankcan be carried at the person's side one-handed by grasping one of thehandles, 194, 196. For typical removal from a right hand system asshown, natural action will result in the tank being carried one-handedvia handle 196. Hence the handles have functional significance not onlyfor a construction which fits both a right hand as well as a left handsystem, but also for construction which fits only one or the other typeof system.

The holding tank also includes a rotatable pourspout 210 mounted in ahole 212 in one of the corners of top wall 180. Pourspout 210 has akeyed and sealed engagement with a hole 212 to maintain sealing contactbetween the spout and the tank for all positions of rotation about theaxis of the hole, and to prevent separation of the pourspout from thetank for all positions of rotation, save the unique position at whichthe pourspout can be removed and installed.

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 illustrate pourspout 210 in its stowed position whereit overlies top wall 180. The end of the spout is shown closed by aremovable closure cap 214. The pourspout is operable from its stowedposition to a range of pourout positions, one of which is portrayed inbroken lines in FIG. 8 simply for convenience in illustration. Inpourout position the pourspout points away from tank 104 beyond itssidewall 182. Further details of the keyed and sealed connection of thepourspout on the holding tank will be explained later.

There is a further hole 216 in top wall 180 at the diagonally oppositecorner from hole 212. Hole 216 contains a vent valve assembly 218. Thevent valve assembly includes a fitting which has a keyed and sealedengagement with hole 216 in the same manner as the keyed and sealedengagement of the pourspout with hole 212. This enables the pourspoutand the vent valve assembly to be reversed on the holding tank so thatfor a forward facing left hand system installation, the pourspout can bemounted in hole 216 adjacent opening 70 in the left sidewall 66c of theRV and the vent valve assembly in hole 212. In the illustrated righthand installation, the pourspout is mounted on the front right handcorner of the top wall of the holding tank (as referenced to the RV),while the vent valve assembly is at the rear left hand corner. For aleft hand installation the pourspout will be mounted at the left rearcorner and the vent valve assembly at the right front corner.Accordingly, in a right hand installation, the pourspout, in its stowedposition, will point to the rear of the RV; in a left hand installation,it will point toward the front of the RV.

From consideration of the description of the pourspout it can now beappreciated that the purpose of cavity 176, described earlier, is toprovide a space for the stowed pourspout when the holding tank is stowedwithin the stowage compartment in a right hand installation. Cavity 176also contains space for a fill 220 which is used in filling waterstorage chamber 170. Details of the fill will be explained later on.FIG. 6 shows fill 220 disposed over the rear of the stowed holding tank.For a left hand installation, fill 220 is disposed in cavity 178 tooverlie the left rear of the holding tank. Hence, it is to beappreciated that cavity 178 is essentially the mirror image of cavity176 about plane 224 for providing space for the fill and pourspout.

As earlier mentioned, opening 188 is controlled by blade 274 within theinterior of the tank. While details of the blade will be subsequentlyexplained, it can be noted for the moment that the path of blade motionwithin the tank is a horizontal arcuate one which occurs about avertical axis 222 spaced from opening 188 to one side of an imaginaryvertical plane 224 passing transversely through both the tank and theopening and also bisecting both. Hence, axis 222 is asymmetrical on thetank, and this means that in both right hand and left hand systeminstallations, the holding tank must be positioned in relation to thebench in exactly the same way even though pourspout 210 and vent valveassembly 218 have interchangeability in the respective holes 212, 216and holes 212, 216 are equidistant from plane 224 and also equidistantfrom an imaginary plane 226 which bisects the tank at 90° to plane 224.

In view of the description thus far, it is believed that the generalorganization and arrangement of the major components is fairly apparent.They are organized and arranged in a space efficient manner, well suitedfor recreational vehicle usage; moreover the usual servicing of thetoilet, i.e. filling of the water storage chamber, and removal of theholding tank for dumping accumulated waste contents, are performedentirely from the exterior of the RV so that these activities do nottake place in or through the interior occupant space.

Attention can now be directed to more of the details of theaforementioned components.

One significant feature of the invention is that holding tank opening188 automatically connects to and disconnects from the toilet bowloutlet in accompaniment of moving the holding tank into and out ofstowage compartment 108. Likewise the coupling between operator knob 172on bench 106 and the valve blade which opens and closes opening 188 alsoautomatically connects and disconnects with the movement of the holdingtank into and out of the stowage compartment.

For a toilet installation, it is important for the separable connectionbetween the holding tank opening 188 and the toilet bowl outlet to be ofa sealed nature when connected, and this is accomplished by theinvention. Briefly, the guidance provided for holding tank 104 by tracks124, 126 will serve to establish fairly precise alignment for properregistration of the bowl outlet opening and the holding tank opening. Anadditional means however is associated with the bowl outlet opening andthe holding tank opening to take into account certain tolerancevariations which will inherently exist in the commercial manufacture ofthe product to insure that the final connection is properly sealed.Details are shown in FIGS. 10-18B.

A flange member 230 is fitted around the bowl outlet opening 231 at thebottom of the bowl. Member 230 forms one part of the guide mechanism forguiding the holding tank opening into precise final registry with thebowl outlet opening. The other part of the guide mechanism is formed bya member 232 which attaches to the top wall of holding tank 104 aroundopening 188.

Member 232 comprises a central annular portion 233 which serves toretain an annular elastomeric seal 234 on tank 104 around opening 188.Specifically seal 234 comprises a main body 236 which is disposed in acircular cavity 238 around the circular opening 188. A pair of annularlips 237, 239 project from main body 236. The annular retention portion233 fits onto the top holding tank surface around cavity 238 andcompresses the annular body of the elastomeric seal downwardly in thecavity to provide a seal of the elastomeric body to the holding tankaround opening 188. Member 232 further comprises channels 244, 246formed along its longitudinal side edges parallel with the direction ofmovement of the holding tank into and out of the stowage compartment.

Flange member 230 comprises an annular portion 250 which fits on thebowl outlet and side edge portions 252, 254 which, like channels 244,246, are parallel with the direction of motion of the holding tank intoand out of the stowage compartment. These side edge portions arenominally straight and parallel, but their ends are curved for reasonsto be subsequently explained.

The two members 230, 232 are so disposed around the bowl outlet and theholding tank opening respectively so that the side edge portions 252,254 slide into and out of the side edge channels 244, 246 as the tank ismoved into and out of stowage. Each channel has essentially a 90° crosssection composed of a horizontal side and a vertical side. The verticalclearance dimension from the horizontal sides of the channels to the topof lip 237 is less than the thickness of the side edge portions 252, 254of flange member 230, and therefore a very precise vertical fit occursas the member 232 slides onto the flange member 230 so that a controlleddeflection of lip 237 results. Similarly the nominal width of the flangemember across the straight portions of its side edges is just slightlyless than the clearance width between the vertical sides of the twochannels 244, 246.

Because of tolerance considerations, the guidance of holding tank 104 bybase member 102 may happen not to produce the exact precise alignmentwhich is required to lodge the side edge portions 252, 254 withinchannels 244, 246. Consequently, means are provided which function uponinitial engagement of the two members 230, 232 to compensate for initialdepartures from the precise final alignment which is required to fit themembers 230, 232 fully together, and there are several possible ways forthe slight misalignment to be taken out. Because member 232 is mountedon the domed central region of the tank, and the tank is constructed ofa walled plastic material, it is possible for some limited deflection ofthe top wall to occur. There may also be some very slight movement ofthe holding tank on the tracks as it is being slid into the stowagecompartment. There could also be a limited deflecting of one or bothmembers 230, 232 but any such deflection is to be minimized because themembers 230, 232 play important parts in insuring that the proper finalsealing action takes place. The illustrated member 232 is securelyattached to the holding tank by eight screws 258 and is quite rigid sothat it will exhibit essentially no deflection per se.

The side edge channels 244, 246 of member 232 are open at bothlengthwise ends and the flange member projects from both sides of thebowl outlet to endow this joint between the bowl outlet and holding tankopening with the ability to connect and disconnect irrespective of whichdirection the holding tank is moved into and out of the stowagecompartment (i.e. irrespective of right hand or left handinstallations). Thus when the tank is inserted from one direction, oneend of the flange member 230 and the confronting end of member 232become the leading ends of the guide mechanism which make initialengagement. If the tank is installed from the opposite direction, theother ends of the two members become the leading ends which make initialengagement with each other. Leads are provided in the ends of themembers 230, 232 and in the case of member 232 take the form of upturnedcorners 260 in the horizontal sides of the channels and in the case offlange member 230 comprises the lengthwise ends of the side edgeportions 252, 254 being curved inwardly toward each other at 262.

The elastomeric annular seal 234 has lips 237, 239 around the innerperiphery of its body 236. Lip 237 is canted upwardly toward the bowloutlet. In relaxed condition the free edge of this lip projects abovethe nominal level of the flat horizontal lower surface of flange member230. The relative position of the free edge of this lip is such thatwhen members 230, 232 are fully engaged to place the tank opening 188 invertical alignment with the bowl outlet opening, lip 237 is deflectedslightly downwardly from its free position to thereby exert an upwardsealing force around and against that portion of flange 230 which fitsaround the bowl outlet. In the disclosed embodiment the seal makesactual contact with member 230 because annular portion 231 of the memberfitting onto the bowl outlet member constitutes a continuation of thebowl outlet opening. Hence reference to sealing of the bowl outletopening can refer not only to the disclosed embodiment, but in otherembodiments to contact with the bowl or a separate conduit coming fromthe bowl. Because the outlet opening surface against which the sealmakes contact is a part of the flange member in the disclosedembodiment, precision in control of the seal lip deflection is improvedbecause the surface against which the seal acts is a part of the samemember which provides guidance for securing desired precise alignment inregistration between tank opening and bowl outlet.

The second lip 239 below the level of the first lip 237 is canteddownwardly toward the holding tank and has a cooperative associationwith a blade 274 which opens and closes opening 188 so that when theblade is closed the second lip 239 is deflected slightly upwardly toprovide annular sealing contact with blade around opening 188.

Because the edge of the upper sealing lip 237 in its free condition willbe above the level of the surface against which it is to seal, it willbe deflected downwardly as the tank is connected to the bench. Thisdownward deflection is imparted to the lip by flange member 230 As theconnection is being made, the downward deflection over the firstsemicircular half of the lip will be in the same direction as itsnatural flexing. However over the second semi-circular half the actionwill have a component which could tend to curl the lip, an undesirableresult, particularly at the end.

To guard against this, the opposite leading ends of flange member 230are configured with inclined surfaces 280 between the side edges whichact on the seal to assist in deflecting the seal so that such curling isavoided. One surface will be effective for one direction of insertion,and the other surface for the opposite direction. The contact which ismade with seal lip 237 by this inclined surface will act on the lip in amanner which tends to deflect the lip downwardly rather than curling it.Consequently when the tank is fully installed in the stowage compartmentthe entire periphery of the lip is in proper sealing contact with thebowl outlet.

Upon withdrawal of the tank the seal moves out of sealing engagement andthe upper lip will tend to return toward its free non-deflectedposition. Because the amount of deflection to require sealing must becarefully controlled, the organization and construction which has beenillustrated is especially advantageous in securing this type of control.The seal is related to the holding tank in a predetermined manner bymember 232 which integrally contains the side edge channels 244, 246.Likewise, the flange member 230 which has the side edge portions 252,254 which fit within these side edge channels also contains the surfaceagainst which the upper lip seals. Moreover, the relationship of theseal on the holding tank also serves to locate the lower lip 239 inproper relation for the correct sealing of the blade 274. Thus theoverall arrangement is particularly advantageous for securing propersealing in accompaniment of the act of moving the holding tank into thestowage compartment. In other words no separate manipulation oroperation is required in order to make the seal other than the mere actof inserting the tank into the stowage compartment. The seal defectingsurface 280 can also serve to assist in guiding the tank into properfinal connection.

Leads 262 compensate for any horizontal lateral misalignment which mayexist as member 230 is being inserted into member 232.

The upturned corners 260 are flat surfaces but at an oblique angle toboth the horizontal and the vertical. As such they present surfaceswhich will serve to engage the leading ends of the flange member in amanner which not only will primarily compensate for any verticalmisalignment which may exist as the two members are being insertedtogether, but also cooperate with leads 262 to compensate for horizontalmisalignments. The compensation for any horizontal lateral and verticalmisalignments will result in flange member 230 being brought to thefinal position as represented in FIGS. 10-12 with the holding tank fullystowed within the stowage compartment. FIGS. 18A and 18B portray therelationships involved. While the nominal design of the system is suchthe flange member 230 will fit into the guide member 232 in a mannerwhich will have the final precise alignment, it is more likely becauseof tolerances, that the leak and/or seal deflection surface will beoperative to bring the two parts into the final precise sealingalignment when the tank is fully stowed. Thus connection anddisconnection of the sealed coupling between the bowl outlet and theholding tank occurs automatically in accompaniment of bodily motion ofthe holding tank into and out of the stowage compartment.

Blade 274 is operated between open and closed positions from knob 172via a coupling mechanism, 290 generally. A portion of this couplingmechanism is disposed on bench 106 and another portion is on holdingtank 104. The portion of the mechanism on the bench is portrayed inFIGS. 19-23 and will be described in detail shortly; for the moment itcan be noted it comprises an actuating member 292 which is concentricwith axis 222. Likewise the portion of the mechanism on the holding tankcomprises an actuated member 294 disposed on the top wall of the holdingtank concentric with axis 222 when the holding tank is in stowedposition. In the tanks' stowed position, the actuating and the actuatedmembers are operatively connected in a driving relationship wherebymotion of the actuating member about axis 222 imparts rotary motion tothe actuated member about axis 222. It is this motion which in turnoperates blade 274.

The operative coupling between the actualing and actuated members is inthe form of a disconnectable connection which makes and breaks inaccompaniment of bodily motion of the holding tank into and out of thestowage compartment. Basically the nature of the operative couplingbetween the actuating and actuated members is in the form of adiametrical tongue 296 on one of the members, the actuated member inthis embodiment, and a diametrical slot 298 on the other, the actuatingmember. When the valve has been operated to the closed position fromknob 172, the diameters of the tongue and slot lie on a line which isparallel to the direction in which the holding tank moves into and outof the stowage compartment. Because the ends of the slot are open, thetongue can move radially relative to axis 222 allowing connection anddisconnection to occur.

Operation of the connected coupling to a position which opens blade 274will result in the diameters of the slot and tongue being moved out ofparallelism with the direction of movement of the tank into and out ofthe stowage compartment. Consequently if an attempt is made at this timeto remove the stowed tank from the stowage compartment, the misalignmentof the connection relative to the direction of tank removal willrestrict the movement of the holding tank and prevent it from beingremoved from the stowage compartment. This is an advantageous featurebecause it requires that the valve be closed before the tank iswithdrawn and this can avoid potential splashing of tank contents out ofthe open opening 188 or other undesired consequences which could resultfrom an open blade. By slot 298 being open at both ends, the ability tomake the connection will occur for either direction of insertion of theholding tank into the stowage compartment. Consequently the mechanism isuseful for both right hand and left hand system installations.

When the tank is removed from the stowage compartment, it could happen,for some reason or another, that actuating member 292 has been rotatedabout axis 222 so that the diameter of slot 298 is no longer inalignment with the direction of insertion of the tank into the stowagecompartment. By providing leads 300 at both ends of the slot, theinitial engagement of tongue 296 with the lead will serve to bring theactuating member back into a properly aligned position, and in thisregard the operating mechanism on the bench is configured not toseriously resist this realignment.

Although the portion of the operating mechanism which is on the benchappears to extend through the bench, it does so externally of the waterstowage compartment 170. For this purpose the bench is configured withan appropriate wall configuration below knob 172. Bench 106 comprises anupper plastic part 302 and a lower plastic part 304 joined around a seam306. A tower 308 is fashioned in the lower part 304 and projectsupwardly to have a sealed fit through an aperture 310 in the upper halfpart 302. This can be seen in FIG. 19. The cooperative effect is toprovide a vertical passage 312 through the bench from the top surface ofthe bench through to a cavity area 314 in which a further portion of theoperating mechanism is disposed.

The operating mechanism includes a shaft member 318 disposed in passage312 and supported for rotation about a vertical axis 320. Knob 172 has asnap-on attachment to the upper end of shaft 318 which couples the knobto the shaft such that circumferential motion imparted to the knob aboutaxis 320 is imparted to the shaft. The lower end of the shaft issupported by a suitable bracket structure 324 from the wall of the benchand contains a sprocket 326.

The actuating member 292 is supported for rotation on the lower wall ofthe bench by a suitable mount 328. The mount has a base 330 attached tothe bench and containing a stub shaft 332 on the lower end of whichactuating member 292 is disposed. The outside of shaft 332 contains asprocket 334 which is at the same elevation as sprocket 326. An endlessdrive chain 336 wraps around the two sprockets whereby rotation which isimparted to sprocket 326 from knob 172 is transmitted to rotate sprocket334 and hence actuating member 292. In this way the rotary motionimparted to the knob is effective to impart rotary motion to theactuating member and ultimately to the valve blade.

The knob is also capable of being moved axially of axis 320. The topwall of the holding tank and the knob are shaped to provide an annularcompartment 340 within which an electric push button switch 342 isdisposed. The switch body is mounted by a suitable bracket 344 tosupport the push button against the underside of the top of the knob.The switch is normally open for the solid line position depicted in FIG.19, but when knob 172 is depressed to the broken line position, the pushbutton is operated causing the switch to close.

Lead wires 346, 348 extend from the switch to an electric circuitconnection with an electric pump located within the tank water storagechamber when the installation is of the electrically operated flushtype, and to an interlock in the form of a switch (not shown) which isclosed only when the holding tank is in fully stowed position.Consequently only when the tank is fully stowed is the knob effective tooperate the electric pump. Because the single knob independentlycontrols both the electric pump, and the valve blade, the operation ofthe toilet is rendered particularly convenient for a user by thisoperating arrangement. A return spring 349 returns the knob from thedepressed to the nondepressed state upon release.

Blade 274 is disposed within holding tank 104 for arcuate motion aboutaxis 222, as previously noted. The general shape of the blade isportrayed in FIG. 25. The blade comprises a hub portion 370 which isconcentric with axis 222 and a blade portion 372 projecting radially ofthe generally circular hub portion.

Blade 274 has an operative coupling with actuated member 294 asportrayed in FIGS. 24 and 25. The coupling is through a rotarylost-motion connection which is provided by a vent valve member 376 ofan associated vent valve 378. The purpose of vent valve 378 is toprovide for venting of the tank headspace just before the blade opens.This venting is advantageous and the general principle is alreadydescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,773, commonly assigned.

Actuated member 294 is journaled within an opening 380 in the top wallof the tank in a sealed manner and has an integral shaft portion 3.28projecting into the tank. This shaft portion has a non-circular crosssectional shape and vent valve member 376 is fitted onto it via amatching hole in a central hub portion 392 of member 376. A bladeportion 394 projects radially from hub portion 392. Member 392 isaxially kept on shaft 382 by integral flexible catches, or barbs 395, onthe axial end of the shaft. The two members 376 and 294 are retained onthe tank by axially capturing the holding tank top wall.

The lost-motion connection between members 274, 376 is provided in thevicinity of their hub portions. Valve 274 has a circular hole 397 whichfits concentrically onto an axial portion 399 of member 376. Member 376comprises a pair of downwardly projecting stops 400, 402 spacedcircumferentially apart. Blade 274 is circumferentially captured betweenthese stops, and it has circumferentially spaced stop surfaces 404, 406which circumferentially confront the respective stops 400, 402. Thecircumferential spacing between stop surfaces 404, 406 is however lessthan the circumferential spacing between two stops 400, 402 so thatthere is a certain lost-motion between the two members, and in thedisclosed embodiment is about 15°. A venting aperture and seal 410 isprovided in the tank's top wall. In FIGS. 24 and 25, the ventingaperture is closed by blade 394 on member 376 and opening 188 is closedby blade portion 372 of member 274.

Operation of knob 172 in the valve opening sense will operate throughcoupling mechanism 290 to turn actuated member 294 in a sense which willimpart motion to vent valve member 376 in the counterclockwise sense asviewed in FIG. 25. Consequently the vent valve blade opens the ventthereby venting the headspace of the tank as the lost-motion betweenstop 400 and stop surface 404 is taken up.

Once stop 400 has abutted stop surface 404 (FIG. 25A), continued motionimparted to member 376 will now also rotate member 274 in thecounterclockwise sense as viewed in FIG. 25 so that the two members turnin unison until the valve blade has fully opened (FIG. 25B).

When opening 188 is to be closed, rotation of knob 172 in the valveclosing sense will rotate the member 376 in the clockwise sense asviewed in FIG. 25. Member 274 will begin to close only after the 15°lost motion has been taken up with stop 402 abutting stop surface 404(FIG. 25C). Continued rotation in the closed sense returns the twomembers to the position of FIG. 25. This then has described the generalmanner of operation of the valve blade and associated vent valve. Trackstructure 420 is also associated with the valve blade and will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 26-29.

The track is a one-piece molded plastic member 422 which fits againstthe inside of the top wall of holding tank 104 capturing the valveblade. The track member has five integral posts 424 which have snap fitattachment to a corresponding pattern of mating projections 426integrally formed to project downwardly from the top of the holdingtank. Representative detail of a connection is shown in FIG. 28.

The track member itself has an arcuate configuration comprising twoseparate arcuate tracks 430, 432 for supporting the valve blade. Track430 lies on a larger radius to axis 222, and track 432 on a smaller one.The tracks comprise upwardly facing horizontal track surfaces on whichthe far arcuate edge portion 434 and a smaller radius portion 436 of theblade are supported. The two tracks are disposed on opposite sides ofopening 188 and are spanned by four integral ribs 440 spaced apart alongthe tracks but not interfering with passage through opening 188.

An advantageous feature is incorporated into the valve mechanism suchthat as the valve approaches fully closed position, it is elevatedslightly so that it comes into a more forceful contact with the sealinglip 239. This feature insures proper deflection of the lip for sealingpurposes when the valve is closed but without unduly restricting valvemotion when the blade is away from fully closed position. This elevatingcapability is provided by four ramps on the track member which areoperative in unison with four ramps on the blade so that the bladeremains essentially horizontal at all times. In other words the blade isnot tipped out of the desired parallelism with the lip of the seal asthe blade is swung closed, but rather is uniformly elevated. The rampsare disposed in particular locations on each track and the underside ofthe blade and their slopes are correlated with their radial distancefrom axis 222 so that blade parallelism is maintained as the rampsinteract. Thus the two ramps 450 and 452 on track 430 are longer but oflesser slope than the ramps 454, 456 on track 432 which are shorter butof steeper slope. The blade has ramps 460, 462 on its leading edgemargin 458 which interact with track ramps 450 and 454, and ramps 464,466 which interact with track ramps 452, 456. Each blade ramp has aslope and length corresponding to the particular track ramp with whichit interacts. FIG. 29 shows the blade closed with the several rampshaving interacted to elevate it as it was being closed. Leading edgemargin 458 is chamfered at 467 to provide gradual seal lip deflection asthe blade is being closed. Hole 397 and member 376 are shaped to allowthe blade to move axially on portion 399 as the blade elevates duringclosure and lowers during opening. Notch 395 provides clearance to thepost 424 at the end of track 432 when the blade is fully open.

From the standpoint of general mechanical principles it will beappreciated that the weight of the tank on base 102 and the tank'soperative connection to the bench will present to a certain extent someresistance to withdrawal of the tank. However this resistance should beminimized to enable the tank to be withdrawn without undue difficultywhen it is intended to be removed. In the recreational vehicle the tankwill be subjected to various forces associated with use of therecreational vehicle such as over-the-road vibrations and the like.There is ample constraint in the fore and aft direction in the RV byvirtue of the support of the tracks; the connection of the tank to thebench and its support on the tracks provides vertical constraint.Consequently it is desirable to provide some form of constraint againsthorizontal displacement of the tank, particularly in the direction inwhich the tank moves out of the stowage compartment. The horizontallongitudinal constraint for the stowed position is provided by a pair ofreleasable spring-loaded catches 480, 481 disposed on base 102 atopposite ends of holding tank 104. FIG. 4 shows the spring-loadedcatches in position which constrains the holding tank against movementin the direction of arrow 128. The catches act against the lower endedge corners of the holding tank wall. Details of the catch mechanismare portrayed in FIGS. 30 and 31.

Base 102 is configured for mounting of the catches. Each catch member482 can rock about a horizontal axis 483 which is perpendicular to thedirection of tank removal and installation. The catch member 482 iscaptured for limited motion about axis 483 by a suitably shaped retainer485 which has a cooperative association with both the catch receivingformation in base 102 and catch member 482. A helical spring 486 iscompressed between a seat in the base and a seat in the underside of thecatch member and serves to bias the catch member to the solid lineposition shown in FIG. 30 where the distal end of the catch is catchingthe holding tank. Depression of the catch member to the broken lineposition clears it from catching relation to the holding tank allowingthe holding tank to be withdrawn. The distal end of the catch member iscanted downwardly at an angle to improve the clearance when it isintended to remove the tank.

In order to remove the tank from the stowage compartment the catch 480immediately adjacent the stowage compartment door is first released.This is done by depressing the spring-loaded catch to clear the loweredge of the holding tank. This allows the holding tank to pass outwardlyof the stowage compartment.

The invention also provides an advantageous feature involving thespring-loaded catches which prevents the tank from being accidentallypulled completely out of the stowage compartment. Such accidentalseparation could result in the tank dropping onto the ground andpotential damage or other undesired consequences. To guard against thisthe bottom wall of holding tank 104 is configured with a pocket 490which has a sufficient height that once the tank has been withdrawn acertain amount the spring-loaded catch returns to catching position. Thepocket terminates short of both ends of the tank to form stops 491.

FIG. 31A shows the initial withdrawal of the tank with the near end ofthe bottom wall holding the previously released catch depressed. Aspocket 490 passes over the catch, the spring returns the catch tocatching position. Now the far stop 491 will abut the catch before thetank has been fully withdrawn arresting the outward motion of the tank.This is shown in FIG. 31B.

At this time members 230 and 232 have separated and the central topdomed area of the tank has cleared the flange member 230 sufficientlythat the tank can be tipped in the manner portrayed in FIGS. 8 and 9 toclear the stop of the catch. Consequently the tank can be grasped in themanner portrayed in FIG. 9 and completely removed from the stowagecompartment.

Reinstallation is accomplished in the opposite manner. The empty tankwill weigh considerably less than a nearly full one, and therefore theclearance which is provided by pocket 490 prevents the catch frompossibly cocking the tank and potential interference with members 230and 232 coming into engagement with each other. Once members 230, 232are initially engaged however, the near end of the tank will ride overthe catch and depress it. The final installed position is defined byabutment of the far end of the tank with the far catch and at this timethe near end of the tank has just cleared the near catch so that thenear catch now returns into catching engagement with the holding tankwith the result that the holding tank is now constrained against anylongitudinal displacement by the two catches. Hence the catches may besaid to define the stowage position of the tank wherein the bowl outletis connected in sealed relationship to the tank inlet opening 188 andthe actuating and actuated member 290, 292 are operatively connectedtogether so that the valve blade can be operated from the knob 172. Therelationships and constructions involved are advantageous because theone-piece base member contains locators for mounting of the catches andthe one-piece base member in turn attaches to the bench thereby relatingthe bench to the base to define the stowage compartment and the stowedposition for the holding tank therein.

Pourspout 210 and vent valve assembly 218 have a cooperative associationon the holding tank not only with respect to interchangeability but alsothe manner in which this interchangeability is accomplished and theirfunctioning when contents of the tank are to be emptied.

Pourspout 210 is a hollow tubular element having a right angle bend. Oneend is operatively engaged with the holding tank while the opposite endis closed by the removable cap 214. Details of the spout constructioncan be seen in FIGS. 32 and 33.

The end of the pourspout on which cap 214 is disposed is provided withan integrally formed screw thread, and the cap has a similar threadwhich allows it to be screwed onto the end of the pourspout to close it.When the contents are to be dumped the cap is unscrewed and removed.Preferably a circular sealing gasket 500 is lodged within cap 214 so asto provide a seal between the end wall of the cap and the edge of thespout at its discharge end when the cap is fully tightened.

The opposite end of the spout is of a generally circular shape but itcomprises a multi-lobed key 512. Specifically the key 512 comprises sixcircumferentially spaced lobes which are identified by the referencenumerals 512a, 512b, 512c, 512d, 512e, and 512f. It also comprises acircular groove 514 adjacent to key 512 for an O-ring gasket seal 516.

The holding tank hole 212 within which the keyed end of the pourspout isdisposed has a complementary mating key 518 (shown in phantom in FIG.33) disposed on the wall of hole 212. Key 518 allows the pourspout to befully inserted into hole 212 only when the two keys are incircumferential registry. The arrangement of key 518 on the holding tankis such that circumferential registry of the two keys occurs only withthe spout in the installation and removal position shown in FIG. 34.

The construction of the two keys is such that when the pourspout isfully inserted into hole 212 the key 512 is disposed just beyond the key518. At this point the O-ring gasket 516 is engaged with the wall of theaperture so that a leakproof joint is thereby provided. As the spout isrotated from its installation and removal position, key 512 leaves itscircumferential registry with key 518 but certain portions of theindividual lobes of the keys are always in interlocking engagement whichprevents the pourspout from coming out of the aperture. The dimensionalrelationships are such that this is true over all positions of thepourspout about hole 212 between its installation and removal positionand its stowed position.

For dumping of the holding tank to an appropriate sanitary disposalstation, the pourspout is swung away from its stowed position and cap214 is removed. The pourspout is typically pointed away from the holdingtank and will not normally come close to the installation-removalposition. In other words rotation to the installation-removal positionwould be contrary to the objective of dumping the tank, and thereforeaccidental separation of the spout from the holding tank is essentiallyimpossible. FIG. 37 illustrates a typical dumping procedure and in thatprocedure the pourspout has been rotated from its storage position onlyabout 135° or so.

Vent valve assembly 218 promotes a reasonably smooth discharge flow ofthe waste contents through the spout during dumping. Venting lessensgreatly the tendency for belching or burping of discharging wastematerials.

Details of the vent valve assembly can be seen in FIGS. 35 and 36. Theassembly comprises a main body, or fitting 520, which has a keyedconnection to hole 216 exactly like the keyed connection of thepourspout to hole 212. In other words hole 216 has a key which isarranged on its corner of the tank top wall in the same relativeorientation as key of hole 212 has to its corner of the tank top wall. Atab (not shown) which projects from one of the keys of the fitting formsa circumferential locator for the fitting after the fitting has beeninserted into the hole in the installation-removal position and turned acertain amount. Fitting 520 is fashioned with an integral circular boss522, the lower portion of which projects into the interior of theholding tank. The boss has a top wall 524 with a recess 526 formedcentrally therein. Recess 526, at the bottom, comprises a circular hole528 concentric with the boss. Four arcuate vent openings 530 are in wall524 extending around recess 526 on a common circle. Openings 530provide, via the interior bore of boss 522, venting of the tank interiorto atmosphere.

A valving element 532 comprises a bifurcated shank 534 which fitsclosely within hole 528. A circular actuator button 536 is at the top ofshank 534 and a helical spring 538 is disposed around shank 534 andbetween the bottom wall of recess 526 and actuator button 536. Thespring 538 biases the valving element 532 in the upward direction so asto urge a suitable closure portion 540 against the lower circular edgeof boss 522, so as to close the interior bore of the boss and hence thevent openings 530. The illustrated construction for the closure portioncomprises a rigid circular portion 542 which is affixed to the lower endof shank 534 within the holding tank and which supports an annulargasket 544 which seals against the lower circular edge of the boss 522when the valve is closed.

The broken line position shown in FIG. 35 thus represents the closedposition to which the valving element is normally spring biased. In thisposition the closure portion prevents waste materials and vapors frompassing through the vent openings. The solid line position illustratesthe actuated position which is used during dumping to vent the interiorheadspace of the holding tank. It should be observed that a stop 546 isprovided on button 536 for limiting downward displacement so that thebutton does not close off the vent openings when the valve is depressed.Thus, actuation of the valve always allows air to pass through theopenings 530 into the holding tank to prevent the creation of thepartial vacuums which might give rise to belching and burping duringdumping.

It will be further observed that the location of the vent valve assemblyis adjacent to the handle 196 and a finger recess 200a in cavity 200. Ascan be appreciated from consideration of FIG. 37 the handle or fingerrecess may be grasped by a person dumping the holding tank. Theconfiguration is such that the person's fingers fit conveniently ontothe handle or finger recess with the actuator button being poised to bepushed by the thumb to the venting position. An upstanding lip 550extends partially around (somewhat more than a semi-circle) the outsideof the top wall of boss 522. The upper edge of lip 550 is above button536 when the valve is closed and it forms a protector againstinadvertent actuation of the valve. It also assists in preventing thumbslippage while the button is being depressed. Thus function andconvenience are greatly promoted by the arrangement. The keyed mountingand locator stop serve to properly orient lip 550 for thumb access inthis way.

Because the vent is located generally opposite the pourspout it willinherently be exposed to the headspace of the tank during dumping, thetank being designed to leave a headspace when its liquid waste contentis completely full. Accordingly, liquid waste will not accidentally passthrough openings 530.

In connection with the earlier description of the operation of knob 172it was explained that the knob controls an electrically operated pumpwhen the toilet is to be of the electrically operated pump type. FIG. 38is a fragmentary view illustrating installation of such a pump 600through an opening 602 which is provided in the top wall of bench 106,the two halves of the bench having been previously joined togetheraround their common seam. Opening 602 is to the side of the seatopposite knob 172 and is sufficiently large to pass a small electricallyoperated pump of the submersible type. The pump inlet fits down into apocket 604 of chamber 170 toward the front of the bowl as can be seen inFIG. 5. This is essentially the low point of chamber 170 so that pump600 will be effective in use to pump essentially all the water out ofthe chamber.

The pump outlet connects through a flexible conduit 606 to a dischargeopening or nozzle 608 in the sidewall of the toilet bowl. (See FIG. 5)When the pump is operated, water from chamber 170 is pumped throughconduit 606 and into the bowl. Preferably it is directed around acircular ledge 612 integrally formed in the bowl, spilling over the edgeof the ledge to thoroughly rinse the full extent of the bowl.

The space in the vicinity of where the conduit from the pump connects tothe bowl (i.e. the top to the left of the seat) is ostensibly availablefor water storage. But the overall configuration results in a shapewhere a trapped air pocket may be formed. Although full level willtypically be below the point at which the conduit connects to the bowl,the potential for such an air pocket is created if the full extent ofthis space is attempted to be used. The presence of such an air pocketwill resist filling because of the trapped air, and this in turn reducesthe water storage capacity of the chamber even though a space is presentwhich could accept additional water.

A still further aspect of the present invention comprises providing avent 610 from this air pocket to the interior of the bowl. In thedisclosed embodiment this vent is provided near where the conduit fromthe pump connects to the bowl. This is a somewhat sheltered location sothat passage of water through the vent into the bowl is improbable, butif there should be any such intrusion, the water will fall into the bowland therefore not escape from the sanitary fixture.

After the pump has been installed, it is necessary to close opening 602.A convenient type of a closure contains a provision for storing aproduct which may be used in association with the sanitary fixture. Inthe disclosed embodiment opening 602 is closed by a member 620comprising a circular cylindrical receptacle 622 and fitting through theopening 602 into the interior of the water storage chamber. The top ofreceptacle 622 is open so that it can receive and contain a fresh fullroll of toilet tissue. The closure is attached by any suitable means tothe top of the opening in a sealed manner. A circular cover 624 fitsonto the top of the receptacle to close it.

Where the pump is of a manually operated type, the opening serves tomount a manually operated pump such as one of the type disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 4,180,876, commonly assigned. A pump 625 is mounted on afitting 626 which closes opening 602 and the pump inlet extends downinto the same pocket 604 of the tank where the inlet to the electricallyoperated pump was located in the electric pump version. A conduit fromthe pump outlet connects to the bowl in the same manner as was describedfor the electric pump version. See FIG. 40 for the manual pump.

FIGS. 41-48 portray further detail related to fill 220. The fillcomprises a translucent plastic bottle 650 having the shape illustratedin FIGS. 41 and 42. The bottle is mounted by a hinge structure forhinging motion about a vertical axis 652. In the stowed positionportrayed in FIG. 6 the fill bottle is entirely within stowagecompartment 108 so that the RV access opening can be closed by theaccess opening door.

When the fill is to be used, the access door is opened and the fillbottle swung about vertical axis 652 essentially 90°. This disposes acircular opening 654 in the top wall of the bottle outside of the RVsidewall where it can be filled from any suitable source of water,usually a hose, after the cap 656 on opening 654 has been opened. Bottle650 has a horizontal outlet nipple 658 near its bottom to which one endof a conduit 660 is connected. This conduit has a shape and aconfiguration compatible with the hinged motion of the bottle betweenstowed and fill positions and it extends in the stowage compartment toconnect to an integral nipple 662 formed in the bench. This point ofconnection is below the full fill level of the water storage chamber,and it lies on plane 224.

One of the features of the invention comprises fill bottle 650 beingdisposed at a vertical elevation which is correlated with the full filllevel of water storage chamber 170. Specifically the fill bottle isdisposed at a vertical elevation such that the vertical dimension of thefill bottle spans the same vertical elevation as a final range offilling of chamber 170 up to full. The translucent plastic fill bottlecontains two series of graduations 664 correlated with this range onopposite sides.

Conduit 660 extends from the fill bottle to its connection to waterstorage chamber 170 along elevations which are below the full filllevel. Hence filling of the chamber occurs by the principle that waterseeks its own level. This arrangement is especially advantageous in thatit promotes compactness yet provides a capability for convenient fillingto a desired fill level.

The size of the fill bottle and conduit are sufficient that water willreadily flow from the fill bottle through the conduit and into thechamber. Therefore as the level in the storage chamber approaches thefinal range of filling with which the graduations are correlated, thelevel in the fill bottle will essentially correspond to the level in thechamber. By observing the level in the bottle in relation to thegraduations, the person servicing the fill can observe when the tank hasbeen filled full. Upon filling of the chamber, cap 656 is placed backonto the fill bottle opening and the fill bottle is returned to itsstowed position. FIGS. 44-47 illustrate details of certain of thecomponent parts for the hinge mounting of the bottle. These partsinclude a mounting bracket 670 which has a flange 672 which is disposedagainst and attached to the bench at a downwardly facing horizontal wallportion of the bench at cavity 176. Hinge bracket 670 serves to hingedlymount an intermediate connector member 674 which makes connection ontothe end of the bottle opposite the fill opening.

Part 674 has vertically spaced apart horizontal arms 673, 675 forming athroat which fits onto the end of the bottle by a snap-on type ofattachment. The bottle is formed with vertically aligned square pads677, and each arm 673, 675 contains a square hole via which the partsnaps onto the corresponding bottle pad 677. FIGS. 41 and 42 illustratea right hand installation. The arrangement is advantageous in that theparts provide for a reversal in mounting of the fill bottle when thefill bottle is used in a left hand system installation. In such aninstallation part 670 is essentially turned upside down because theopposite cavity 178 is the mirror image of cavity 176. For a left handinstallation part 674 is indexed 90° so that in the left handinstallation the part 674 will appear as a mirror image of the positionshown in FIG. 41. As a result bottle 650 is in the mirror image positionfor such a left hand installation. Although the pourspout, which isbelow the fill, does not have mirror image symmetry like the bottlethere is still ample clearance between the fill and its associated partsand the pourspout.

Part 674 is configured to allow it to lift onto and off of part 670. Forthis purpose upper arm 673 has a downwardly projecting pin 679 whichfits into a circular hole 686 in part 670. The lower arm 675 has acircularly contoured edge 688 which bears against the outside circularwall 689 of part 670. A detent arrangement 690 is provided to define thestowed and fill positions respectively.

Although the usual intent is to completely use the water in waterstorage chamber 170 by passing it through the toilet bowl outlet andinto the tank, there may be times when it is desired to drain thechamber by other means, and a still further aspect of the inventionprovides this capability. It does so by enabling this draining to takeplace through the stowage compartment to outside the RV.

The bench contains a drain nipple 680 centrally located at the low pointnear the front of the bowl (see FIG. 5). A flexible drain conduit 682 isfitted onto this nipple and routed through the stowage compartment to alocation of adjacency to the RV's sidewall access opening. The end ofthe drain conduit is preferably closed by a removable plug 684 whichprovides a leakproof closure but is relatively easily removable when thechamber is to be drained. The drain conduit has sufficient lengthallowing it to be extended through the access opening to outside the RVwhere this plug 684 can then be removed allowing the contents of thetank to drain. Because the tank is vented to atmosphere through the ventto the bowl, unplugging of the drain conduit will cause the tank todrain through the extended conduit. After draining, the plug isreinserted and the conduit stowed.

The conduit 660 from the fill bottle to the chamber 170 contains a lowpoint and therefore draining of the tank via drain conduit 682 may notnecessarily drain fill bottle 220 and the conduit 660. However becausethe fill bottle can be conveniently lifted off of its hinge mounting itcan be so removed, uncapped, and placed at a sufficiently low elevationallowing the conduit and the fill bottle to drain to outside.

FIGS. 49, 50, and 51 illustrate an alternate form of coupling mechanismfor the actuator. Essentially this mechanism is in substitution of thechain and sprockets of the aforedescribed mechanism. This alternate formcomprises a drive crank 700 in substitution of sprocket 326 and a drivencrank 702 in substitution of sprocket 334. A link 704 between the twocranks substitutes for the endless chain.

FIG. 49 shows the position of the mechanism when knob 172 is operatingblade 274 to the full open position. FIG. 50 illustrates the position ofthe mechanism when the knob is operating the blade to the fully closedposition.

As can be seen in these drawing figures the cranks are shaped withsuitable clearance to adjacent parts.

The mechanism shown in FIGS. 49-51 comprises a variable mechanicaladvantage, unlike the chain and sprocket mechanism which has a constantmechanical advantage. Drive crank 700 and link 704 in effect form atoggle which acts on driven crank 702. The nature of the toggle is suchthat the maximum force is developed in the toggle just as the blade isbeing operated to the fully closed position. In the context of theaforedescribed structure which elevates the valve blade as the valveblade approaches fully closed position, thereby more forcefullydeflecting seal lip 239 as the valve comes to fully closed position, thetoggle is especially advantageous because it provides a maximummechanical advantage just at the time that the maximum mechanicaladvantage is most useful, i.e. at the time of blade elevation on theramp and increased seal deflection. When the valve is operated from theclosed position, the same maximum mechanical advantage will be appliedwith the toggle serving to break away from the closed position.Thereafter, when less effort is required to move the valve blade becauseit is in less forceful engagement with the seal as it approaches openposition, the lower mechanical advantage is entirely satisfactory.Indeed the feel of operation of this type of mechanism is considered tobe quite desirable.

As an aid to fabrication and assembly the cranks and link are fabricatedout of suitable plastic parts for requisite strength and dimensionalstability but without separate attaching parts by providing snap-typeconnections at the ends of the link which snap into holes in the twocranks.

The invention in its several aspects possesses novel and unique featureswhich have heretofore not been available in self-contained sanitarysystems, particularly for recreational vehicles. Access for the usualservicing of the sanitary fixtures is performed entirely from theexterior of the RV through the access opening in the RV sidewall. Thefunctions of filling of the water storage chamber in the bench, drainingof that chamber, and the removal and installation of the waste holdingtank are accomplished through this access opening. The organization andarrangement represents an efficient utilization of available spacewithin a three dimensional envelope within the recreational vehicle.Satisfactory capacities, on the order of 12 to 15 gallons U.S. forexample are provided for the holding tank, and a correlative amount forthe water storage chamber which is usually somewhat less than thecapacity of the holding tank.

Since manufacture of sanitary systems of this type is typically notwithin the province of RV builders, an entirely self-contained systemcan be shipped from the sanitary system manufacturer to the RV builderand essentially all that the RV builder has to do is provide a space inwhich to mount it. In other words the RV builder does not have to go tothe trouble of separately mounting a toilet bowl on the floor, mountinga waste tank under the floor, connecting it to the toilet bowl outlet,or attaching the usual conduits and termination valves to the outside ofthe holding tank. Moreover, the stowage compartment is inherentlydefined in the combination of the base and bench so that all that the RVbuilder need provide is the RV sidewall, the floor, and the interiorback and sidewalls. The illustrated embodiment is adaptable forright-hand and left-hand installations. It is also adaptable for frontand rear installations where the lengthwise dimension of the sanitaryfixture would align with the fore and aft direction of the RV and inthis instance one of the lengthwise ends of the fixture would bedisposed against either the front or rear wall of the RV with a suitableaccess opening being provided.

Sometimes the RV builder must route service conduits such as heatingducts, electrical wires, etc. through the space where it is desired toplace the sanitary fixture. The illustrated embodiment of the inventionis adapted to accommodate such a situation by providing a serviceconduit passage 800 for a heating duct 802 which runs fore and aft ofthe RV along the floor just inside the sidewall. Both longitudinal endsof base member 102 have lips 804. The near lip 804 fits against the RVsidewall just below the lower edge of the rectangular access opening,and since the base member covers the full width of the stowagecompartment, the service conduit is separated from the stowagecompartment. This capability is provided in part also by the particularconfiguration of the box frame 110 and it is contemplated that otherconfigurations of box frame and/or base member 102 can accommodatepassage of service conduits in other locations through the sanitaryfixtures installation.

The pan formations in the base member provide a place for the stowage ofchemical containers. These may be deodorants or the like which areintroduced into the toilet holding tank. Typically these chemicals areadded after the holding tank has been dumped, rinsed, and filled with asmall amount of water. Therefore when the tank is brought back to the RVin such a condition, the valve can be opened and chemicals introduced.In this regard the provision of the tongue on the actuated member on theholding tank is a convenient way for manually operating the valve whenthe tank is out of stowage. The containers for the chemicals can then beclosed and placed back into the pans in the base member, the holdingtank valve also can be closed. Then the holding tank is reinstalled inthe stowage compartment.

In the event that the holding tank were to be filled beyond itscapacity, the organization and arrangement provides a way to alleviatesuch a condition. While the system preferably includes a liquid levelindicator 810, 812 (FIG. 2) by which the level of waste in tank 104 isdisplayed at the front, failure to observe an indicated full conditionmay result in the holding tank being filled beyond its capacity. Thisrefers to being filled above the level of the valve blade. As explainedearlier this condition may be observed from the inside of the RV throughthe toilet bowl. If such a condition is seen, the access door to thestowage compartment can be opened, the pourspout rotated to a pouringposition pointing out through the access opening and the closure cap onthe end of the pourout spout removed.

The pourspout defines a weir level below that of the valve blade so thatexcess waste will flow out of the tank to bring the level to that of theweir level defined by the pourspout. This will alleviate the overfillingand then the spout can be capped in the usual manner, the tank removedand transported for dumping.

The liquid level indicator 810, 812 comprises two movements identifiedby the two respective reference numerals. Movement 810 is containedentirely within holding tank 104 and comprises a float arm assemblyexactly like the float arm assembly described in U.S. Pat. No.4,547,916, commonly assigned. As such, it has a magnet which ispositioned along a segment of a circular arc in accordance with thelevel of waste in the tank.

Movement 812 is mounted on base member 102 and comprises a receptacleand indicator wheel like those in U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,916. The wheel isjournaled in the receptacle and comprises a visible indicator portionwhich is viewable through a front window. There is a suitable recess 814provided in bench 106 for the movement 812 when the bench and base areassembled together. The wheel contains a magnet which, when the holdingtank is stowed, is magnetically coupled through the wall of the tankwith the magnet of the float arm assembly whereby movement 810 operatesmovement 812 to provide the visible level indication. The operation ofthe movements is like that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,916.

The operative coupling between the two magnets is automatically madeupon stowage of the tank within the stowage compartment and isautomatically broken upon removal of the tank from the stowagecompartment. Although there is a certain dimensional clearance so thatthe movement 812 does not interfere with insertion and removal of theholding tank into and out of the stowage compartment, the magnets havesufficient strength to bring the magnet of movement 812 into propercorrelation with the position of the magnet of movement 810 so thataccurate level indication is achieved for the stowed holding tank.

Door 72 and opening 70 have unique frames 900 and 902 respectively.Details appear in FIGS. 52-57.

The door frame 900 comprises two molded plastic outer and inner parts904, 906 which sandwich the margin of a door member 908. The parts 904,906 are held together by a series of fasteners 910 which are passedthrough apertures in the inner frame part 906 and into a matchingpattern of receptacles on the inside of outer frame part 904 so that theattachment is not visible from the outer face of the door The midpointof the right side of door frame 900 contains a key-operated latch 912for latching the closed door to the frame opening. Frame 902 attaches tothe RV sidewall 66c by a series of fasteners 913. The overall size offrame 900 is slightly less than frame 902 so that when the door isclosed, frame 902 is almost entirely concealed by the door when lookingstraight toward the outer face of the closed door.

A peripheral seal 914 on the outer face of frame 902 seals against thedoor, when closed, completely around the opening 70. A second peripheralseal 916 is disposed on frame 902 behind seal 914 to completely sealframe 902 to sidewall 66c around opening 70. Therefore, when the door isclosed, opening 70 is well sealed against intrusion by foreignsubstances such as water and dirt.

Each frame 900, 902 contains two integral circular cylindrical verticalhinge sockets 920, 922 respectively. In the case of frame 900, the twosockets 920 are integral with part 904. Part 904 also contains twonotches 924 which closely receive sockets 922 of frame 902 in verticalalignment with sockets 920 for hinging of the left hand edge of frame900 on the left hand edge of frame 902 about a vertical axis 926.

Two hinge pins, like the one 928 shown in FIG. 57, are used, one toconnect the upper pair of aligned sockets 920, 922 and the other, toconnect the lower pair of aligned sockets 920, 922. The hinges areessentially concealed when the door is closed, also an advantageousfeature.

Assembly of the upper hinge pin 928 is done by inserting it through theupper two sockets 920, 922 and assembly of the lower hinge pin to thelower socket 920 and 922 is done in the new way. While each pin can beinserted into the aligned sockets by first inserting it through thesocket 920 and then into the socket 922, the inwardly directed lip whichextends around the outer margin of part 904 may be interrupted at itsintersection with axis 926 so that the pins can also be inserted fromthe top in case of the upper two sockets 920, 922 and from the bottom inthe case of the lower sockets 920, 922.

The ends of hinge pins 928 have deflectable catches 930. The catchesdeflect radially inwardly allowing the pins to be inserted into thesockets. The axial distance along each pin between the catches at itsends is just slightly greater than the overall length of each socketpair 920, 922 so that once a hinge pin has been fully installed, it isaxially retained by its catches thereby completing the hinge Joint. Thehinge pins are symmetrical for insertion via either end, a conveniencefor assembly purposes.

The integral formation of the hinge sockets in the respective frames900, 902 is advantageous because it eliminates the use of separatehinges, and the need to attach those hinges to the frames, and it doesnot interfere with the sealing of the closed door. For non-integralhinges, either sealing provisions are more complicated, or a largercross sectional space must be devoted to the hinges and seal compared tothe illustrated construction.

Suitable provision is also made as required to provide adequateclearance for operation of the key-operated cylinder latch 912.

It is also to be observed that the assembled door and frame 900 andframe 902 are symmetrical about a horizontal plane bisecting the two.Therefore in a left hand system installation they can mount on the lefthand RV sidewall in mirror image fashion to the illustrated right handinstallation so that the hinge axis 926 is at the rear of the opening(relative to the RV) and when viewed from outside of the RV the axis 926will be along the right hand edge of the opening.

The assembled door and frame 900 and frame 902 also have a certainsymmetry about a vertical plane 940 bisecting the two so that it ispossible to mount them in a right RV sidewall with the axis 926 alongthe right hand edge or in a left RV sidewall with axis 926 along theleft hand edge. For any type of installation, it is important to be surethat any structure inside the RV in the vicinity of opening 70 does notinterfere with either the installation of the assembled door and frame900 and frame 902 or the hinging action of the door about the hingeaxis, or the latching of the door. Indeed, the hinge axis could be otherthan vertical.

In the completed system installation, there is no inner frame member onthe inside of opening 70 nor does frame 902 protrude beyond the insideedge of the opening except for a short projection behind which the tabof the latch lodges when the door is closed and latched. Thus theinterior surface of wall 66c is left flat around opening 70. Accordinglythe bench and base can be disposed directly flat against the inside ofwall 66c, and in an uninterrupted manner around opening 70. They alsomight be considered to provide some lateral support to the wall aroundopening 70, although frame 902 also strengthens around opening 70. Thisfit of the base and bench to the inside surface of the RV sidewallprovides a satisfactory isolation of the stowage compartment and opening70 from the interior occupant space, resisting intrusion of dirt, water,odors or the like.

Moreover the arrangement minimizes the difference between the size ofopening 70 which is required for movement of a holding tank of giventransverse cross section into and out of the stowage compartment on theone hand, and the required transverse cross section area on the interiorof the RV on the other hand.

Certain aspects of the invention have particular application to aself-contained sanitary system in the form of a toilet as illustrated.Other aspects of the invention have broader application than just totoilets. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has beendisclosed, it will be appreciated that principles are applicable toother embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a self-contained water use system comprisingsanitary fixture and holding tank sections separable along a line, saidsections being organized and arranged with the holding tank sectiondisposed at a vertical level lower than that of the sanitary fixturesection so that waste water from the sanitary fixture section passesinto the holding tank section and wherein said holding tank sectioncomprises a valve for opening and closing an opening in the holding tanksection through which waste water from the sanitary fixture sectionpasses, a connectable and disconnectable connection in an operativecoupling which operates the valve from the sanitary fixture section,said coupling including means for preventing separation of the holdingtank section from the sanitary fixture section along said line unlesssaid valve is closed.
 2. The improvement set forth in claim 1 in whichsaid line of separation of said holding tank section from said sanitaryfixture section is a straight line, and said connectable anddisconnectable connection comprises coaxial actuating and actuatedmembers which are disconnectable from each other in a direction radialto their coaxis and in which said radial direction aligns with saidstraight line when the valve is in closed position thereby enabling theactuating and actuated members to be disconnected only when the valve isin closed position.
 3. The improvement set forth in claim 2 in whichsaid connectable and disconnectable connection is in the form of atongue and groove connection.
 4. In a self-contained water use systemcomprising separable sanitary fixture and holding tank sectionsorganized and arranged with the holding tank section disposed at avertical level lower than that of the sanitary fixture section so thatwaste water from the sanitary fixture section passes into the holdingtank section and wherein said holding tank section comprises a valve foropening and closing an opening in the holding tank section through whichwaste water from the sanitary fixture section passes, the improvementwhich comprises means for preventing separation of the holding tanksection from the sanitary fixture section unless said valve is closed,said means for preventing separation of the holding tank section fromthe sanitary fixture unless said valve is closed including an operatorfor opening and closing said valve, said operator being remotelypositioned relative to said tank and coupled to said tank via anactuating member and an actuated member which members are operativelyconnected together when the holding tank section is in a position unitedwith said sanitary fixture, said holding tank section being separablefrom said fixture along a given direction, said actuating and saidactuated members, when operatively connected together, having an axis ofoperation which is transverse to the direction of movement of saidholding tank section from said fixture, and said actuating and saidactuated members being constructed and arranged such that when operatingthe valve to a closed position they are freely separable from each otherin accompaniment of motion of the holding section tank but whenoperating the valve to an open position they prevent the tank from beingseparated from said fixture.